It is safe to say before the Arsenal game last week we would have taken a draw but it shows how far we have come in the last six months when we all came off the pitch at the Emirates disappointed with a nil-nil result. By the standards we have set ourselves lately, to not play as well as we would have wanted was the most disappointing for us. But, as I said before the game, you would take the draw all day and another clean sheet which was great.
It is three clean sheets in a row now and obviously that breeds confidence. All the guys again have been fantastic. Generally the team have been playing with great spirit and yet again that was epitomised again by the performance against Arsenal.
Everyone is doing their bit but like everyone I would like to give special mention to our midfield this week. In particular, Valon [Behrami] whose energy is unbelievable, Scotty [Parker] for his experience and to them both for the guidance they are giving Jack [Collison] and Nobes [Mark Noble], who are themselves putting in top performances. I also want to welcome Radoslav Kovac, our newest addition to the squad.
I think come on Sunday you are going to see that same character and energy again from everyone. We are all looking forward to a really good performance and game.
Turning to Sunday and I welcome Manchester United, their manager, staff, players and fans. I don't think we have lost here for a while against them. Certainly last year at the Boleyn Ground the game could have gone either way and it was fantastic to get the two goals we did and from set-pieces as well which is never easy.
We meet a Manchester United team who are in unbelievable form with clean sheets and wins and, as always, they are timing their run for the title perfectly. But we are also in very good form. We haven't lost for a while and I think it is set up for a fantastic game of football. It is certainly one to be excited about and I know a lot of fans I have spoken to have been saying they are going to the game with a lot of confidence. I is all down to us again to emulate the standards we have set for ourselves in recent weeks.
Sunday's match is dedicated to the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, a charity very close to all our hearts here at West Ham. Not only is it named after a player who is one of the best to have ever come from the club but it is a cause that is doing tremendous work in trying to save the lives of millions of people from cancer.
The charity has formed a strong partnership with the club and we are delighted to do whatever we can to help them in the work they are doing. We hope that everyone on Sunday will join us in doing just that and give their support to this fantastic charity.
Thanks to the fans that went to see us against Arsenal and for being rather loud at the Emirates! It was great for all of us to hear that. They cheered us on when they perhaps didn't have that much to cheer about and let's be honest it was quite dull as far as action goes. But being the away team we were happy to be making sure we are picking up the points especially at this stage of the season.
Thanks for all those who will be cheering us on this Sunday in what I feel will be a very exciting game.
Lucas Neill